THE HYPHENATE QUESTION – IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO BE ‘JUST A WRITER’?

From writer-directors to writer-producers, many writers make their mark by wearing two hats. What kinds of opportunities does the hyphenate open up? Does having a reel, short film or webseries that you directed or produced add value to your career?

In this informal room from the 2012 Retreat, Seth Jaret, CEO of Content Engine, and Josh, a literary manager, speak to this question and the implications of the changing mediaverse for writers trying to succeed in today's Hollywood.

And if you enjoy this podcast, check out Seth's Hollywood Drive & Talk series more great advice on navigating the business:

For over 17 years, CineStory, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been dedicated to nurturing original voices in screenwriting. Alumni have penned films such as IRON MAN, CHILDREN OF MEN, BALLAST, KING OF CALIFORNIA, DARK MATTER and PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND.

In 2013, CineStory seeks to launch a new website to provide tools for aspiring and emerging screenwriters wherever they may be.

Acting as a trusted source of information, the new CineStory website will bring this artistic community free podcasts, webinars, forums and articles about the craft and business of screenwriting.

Curated from existing resources as well as drawing on CineStory’s stable of incredible mentors, all of whom are working Hollywood professionals, the site will offer in-depth advice and analysis on all things screenwriting that blends real world expertise with a love of the craft in its purest form.

If you love great films, consider supporting great screenwriters with a tax deductible donation that includes all kinds of perks!

“Congratulations you have won the 2011 Cinestory Fellowship!” When I read those words, I was floored and more than excited for my adventure with Cinestory. I had been looking for a mentorship that would help me grow and mature as a screenwriter. I found it with Pam Pierce, Cléa Frost, Willie Hagan, Lisanne Sartor, Jason Brown, Meg LeFauvre, Lisa Callamaro and David Baird. They have been my guiding lights of inspiration as successful and working professionals within the film and television industry.

The drive up to Idyllwild was the first time I had joined a writers’ retreat and seriously put myself, and my work, out to the world. I have to admit, I was frightened of the notes process; but Sharon Bordas, Jonathan Fernandez and Susan Cartsonis were kind and helped me weather a process that I found scary and intimidating. Up until this point, I had basically paid for notes from various people and contests. This was the first time I was to sit with a professional, in person, who I didn’t know or hire to give me notes on a project. The process was still hard, but I learned where I had to grow as a professional in terms of unhooking from my work as an extension of my personhood and to look at a “finished” script as a product and not as a proclamation of who I was.

I was blessed to be mentored by Meg and Lisa who helped me suss out my identity as an artist, and budding writer, in my own right. They were invaluable to me as I grew emotionally in my process, identifying who I was, personally, as a screenwriter. Both Lisa and Meg were steeped in wisdom and lent me their ego strength, and their maturity, to see a model of what I could become.

I had the really huge bonus of being mentored by David Baird, who is a literary manager, and knew TV – the primary area and active arena in which I am working to break-in. David’s guidance and mentoring was a treasure above and beyond all my expectations. I was thrilled to discover that he had a relationship with a professional writer I knew… who then became a closer friend.

I can’t recommend Cinestory enough. Everyone with this program are authentic and caring professionals, showing a side of the industry most don’t get to see. Bookmark this site, join up on a retreat. You won’t be sorry!

As we prepare to head up the mountain for the annual CineStory Writers' Retreat, we are very grateful to Langtry Estate & Vineyards for their support of the 2012 Retreat. Established over 100 years ago, Langtry wines rank among the top medal winning wineries at professional wine competitions each and every year.

LUKAS HASSELBorn and raised in Denmark, Lukas Hassel left family and friends behind at the tender age of 19 to study acting at Trinity College’s Samuel Beckett Theatre School in Dublin, Ireland. Some seven years later, ambitions, opportunity, and a desire to experience New York drove him across the Atlantic Ocean in 1996. He still happily resides in Manhattan.

There’s tennis, the love of the outdoors, step-aerobics, cooking and hosting dinner/game nights for close friends, traveling, and family fun.

And then there’s writing and acting...

As a screenwriter, Lukas’s action script Fury was a semifinalist in the PAGE awards; his light comedy script Girls on the Run won “Best Screenplay” in the Carolina Film Festival and became a finalist at CineStory 2009; and his post-apocalyptic script Galápagos won “Best Screenplay” at WilliFest New York 2011. He directed his own short film script Dinner with Peter, which screened at festivals like Smogdance, Williamstown Film Festival, and Boston International Film Festival. He also just wrapped filming his new sci-fi short film, Into the Dark, which he hopes to have ready for festivals later this year.

As an actor, Lukas has worked in theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Joe Dowling, Dracula, Othello, Private Lives, Woman of No Importance,Orfeo ed Euridice, The Ritz on Broadway under Joe Montello’s direction, and many more. In film, Lukas has been in Borstal Boy, the Sundance winning short Man About Town, and recently the feature film In Montauk, directed by Kim Cummings, for which his performance garnered a nomination for “Best Male Lead” in the 2012 Washington DC Film Festival. He just wrapped On the Day God Slept under the direction of Jeremiah Kipp, as well as The 9th Floor directed by Shaun Rana. TV work includes the reality show Soapstar, a lead role in Denmark’s top rated show Anna Pihl, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Beautiful Life (TBL), and The Onion News. He has also breathed life into the beloved character of Mr. Milk, the spokesperson for milk in Scandinavia (“Mr. Melk,” check it out on YouTube…seriously, it’s fun).

Lukas’s latest feature script and first drama, Le Mécano, is the culmination of his writing journey thus far.

Once again our judges had some tough decisions to make in selecting this year's finalists. Each writer below is invited to the 2012 Writers Retreat in Idyllwild, as well as being in the running for the 2012 CineStory Fellowship, valued at over $17k!

Once again our judges had some tough decisions to make in selecting this year's semifinalists. So to all the writers who made it to the quarterfinals, thank you for sharing your wonderful scripts. And of course our congratulations to all those whose work is advancing to the next round.

Each writer below is invited to the 2012 Writers Retreat in Idyllwild, as well as being in the running for the 2012 CineStory Fellowship, valued at over $17k!

When I first came to the Cinestory retreat in September 2010, I remember riding up the winding road to Idyllwild filled with apprehension and nausea, due to an emotional Molotov cocktail of writer’s insecurity, career doubt and maternal guilt; this was the first separation from my 3-year-old daughter for more than a night. Even though I was of course thrilled to be a fellow, having won for my screenplay, AMERICAN CHILD, I was also wondering if the jig was up, and I would realize, along with everyone else that I wasn’t a writer at all, and get thrown out on my “tuchus.” I’m happy to say that didn’t happen!

As soon as I arrived, my nausea dissipated, my fears were washed away, and a warm buzz of anticipation took over. When I started meeting other writers, I realized what a cool group of people were there, all making the trip for the same reason as I was: to become a better writer and make some great connections.

It was like a smorgasbord of mind blowing creative exercises, challenging ideas, informative panels and Barri Evans has these amazing pitching exercises! The mentors were a cool group: a really great bunch of managers, screenwriters, producers all totally different, giving a broad range of insight, who really love working with writers and discovering material.

I felt very challenged and inspired by my mentoring sessions with Leah Estrin, Joe Forte, Phil Eisner, Michelle Sy and Brandy Rivers. They really went deep into the material - a thriller treatment - and questioned me in a way which made me really sink my teeth into the story and develop the characters far beyond my original concept of them. I just finished the screenplay for that treatment and constantly referred to their notes while writing the script.

From the get-go, starting with Lisanne, Clea and all the mentors, everyone was incredibly helpful and nurturing, offering extraordinary insight and advice on all aspects of the writing process, as well as the business end of it. The other really cool thing about the retreat were the relationships I formed with other writers who were there.

I’ve stayed close with a few, and we do script notes for each other and encourage each other. I’ve also stayed in contact with some of the mentors, which has been incredibly helpful as I make my way through this obstacle course known as forging a screenwriting career.